Michael F. Helmstetter, Ph.D.
President and Chief Executive Officer
Midwest Research Institute

As the fifth President and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Michael Helmstetter is responsible for all aspects of managing, operating, and developing the $400 million Institute, including a staff of more than 2,400, with over 600 technical and support personnel in Kansas City, Florida, Virginia, and Maryland, plus approximately 1,800 staff at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado, which is managed and operated by MRI for the Department of Energy.

Dr. Helmstetter has previously served as MRI’s Executive Vice President and Director of Research Operations, Senior Vice President of Research Operations, Vice President of Technical Operations, and as Director of East Coast Operations - encompassing MRI’s divisions in Florida and Maryland. His efforts were instrumental in the growth and stability of the Florida Division, where he provided overall direction to this state-of-the-art, nationally recognized biodefense research laboratory. Dr. Helmstetter also played the lead role in MRI’s quick-start establishment of the National Capital Region Division, based in Rockville, Maryland, a critical laboratory serving the greater Washington, DC, area with 24/7 laboratory analysis, as well as critical technology evolution research programs.

Prior to joining MRI, Dr. Helmstetter held a series of laboratory management positions at Applied Marine Research Laboratory in Norfolk, Virginia, before becoming the Program Manager for the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution in Fort Pierce, Florida. In 1993, Dr. Helmstetter became President of Brevard Teaching and Research Laboratories, a post he held until 1999, when MRI acquired BTR Labs and retained Dr. Helmstetter as Director of its Florida Division.

Dr. Helmstetter has over 20 years of experience working with both the private sector and numerous government agencies—with an emphasis on the Department of Defense and the intelligence community. His personal success in laboratory research and development covers biotechnology, toxicology, chemical instrumentation, sampling designs and complex data analysis.

Dr. Helmstetter received a Ph.D. in Chemical Toxicology/Oceanography from Old Dominion University in 1992 and a B.S. in Biology from Allegheny College in 1986. He has been a reviewer to several technical journals, and he has appeared in many Who’s Who publications, including Who’s Who International. He is the author of numerous publications, technical articles, book chapters, and technical reports. Dr. Helmstetter currently serves on several boards including, Kansas City Area Life Sciences Institute, Labconco Corporation, Kansas State University Veterinary College, Dycor Technologies, Ltd., Civic Council of Greater Kansas City and a member of the KU Medical Center Research Institute Board, Executive Committee, Research Committee, and Finance Committee.